Upper Secondary Education in Queensland Full Review 1 Australia, Queensland Full Review By Sharon O’Donnell Aim and purpose ■ What is the stated aim and purpose of this stage of education, e.g. linked to entry to higher education, the world of work; a broad aim of personal and societal enrichment etc.? ■ Are these aims and purposes influenced by an overarching national plan for education or do they reflect the influence of international organisations such as the OECD? The Queensland Government Department of Education and Training (DET) Strategic Plan 2016-2020 (DET, 2016a) ‘sets the direction for the Department to deliver high quality learning and skilling opportunities for all Queenslanders to reach their full potential and engage fully in the lifelong learning journey’. It is supported by the Advancing Education action plan (DET, 2017a) which aims to: ■ ‘inspire students to become lifelong learners, global citizens and successful people, confidently able to navigate their future, building on the essentials of literacy and numeracy’, and to ■ ’position schools to more effectively support students to develop the knowledge, skills and qualities they need to be job-ready for the jobs of the future’. In terms of senior secondary the new senior secondary The Advancing Education schooling (for 15/16- to leaving qualification, the action plan and the 18-year-olds), Advancing QCE began the process of Strategic Plan are Education has a focus generating a stronger link further supported by the on strengthening the between school and career. Queensland state schools pathways available to It reflected a heightened strategy 2017-2021 - Every students and continuing focus on providing tailored, Student Succeeding to expand the number of more flexible pathways (DET, 2017b), which has vocational education and and began to place a focus on raising the training (VET) options in greater value on vocational performance of all state schools. This is with a view education for students in school pupils, teachers and to ensuring that every senior secondary school. principals, and identifies Queensland state school Under the action plan, the successful learners as student has the opportunity system of senior secondary those who successfully to complete Year 12 (age 18) assessment under the QCE transition through each and, where possible, achieve will change in 2019, along phase of learning to further the Queensland Certificate with the system of entry to education, training and of Education (QCE) as the tertiary education (see the employment. The state stepping stone to enhanced subheading ‘Assessment schools strategy includes employment prospects and reporting’ below), but priorities to: and future opportunities. the QCE will remain as the Introduced in 2008, as key Year 12 certificate. Upper Secondary Education in Queensland 2 Full Review ■ create inclusive opportunities for all students to reach their potential as successful people ■ identify and support at-risk students ■ provide vocational education and training options in schools ■ create a culture of engaging learning that improves wellbeing and achievement, values diversity and responds to student needs and interests ■ provide opportunities for students to identify their intended learning options and learning pathways ■ create the next generation of global citizens and entrepreneurs by valuing student voice; embedding science, technology, engineering and maths (STEM) opportunities; and expanding the study of languages. Its performance goals include: ■ improving academic achievement for all students ■ lifting the performance of the state’s top students ■ improving reading and writing for all students ■ improving Year 12 (upper secondary) certification rates ■ closing the gap for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander (Indigenous) students ■ improving the participation and achievement of students with disability. These aims and purposes do not appear to reflect the particular influence of international organisations such as the OECD. The changes to senior secondary assessment (via the QCE) and tertiary entry being introduced from 2019 follow an Australian Council for Educational Research (ACER) report (2014), which found that, while existing arrangements had served Queensland students well and were fair and reliable, changes were required to achieve greater rigour, simplicity and sustainability. Upper Secondary Education in Queensland Full Review 3 Structure of the education system ■ How is upper secondary provision for students structured, e.g two-year / three-year / varied approach; around subjects or broad areas of learning; broad/comprehensive or specialised / narrow in focus? ■ When does compulsory education end? ■ What is the age profile of students in this stage of education? ■ How well does the structure of the system reflect the stated aim as outlined above Upper secondary provision in Queensland is the final two years of education, Years 11 and 12 as detailed in the table below. Year Age range School Level Preparatory year Age 5-6 (Prep) Year 1 Age 6-7 Primary school Year 2 Age 7-8 Primary school Year 3 Age 8-9 Primary school Year 4 Age 9-10 Primary school Year 5 Age 10-11 Primary school Year 6 Age 11-12 Primary school Year 7 Age 12-13 Primary school Year 8 Age 13-14 Secondary Year 9 Age 14-15 Secondary Year 10 Age 15-16 Secondary Year 11 Age 16-17 Senior secondary Year 12 Age 17-18 Senior secondary Under the Education (General Provisions) Act 2006, as amended (Queensland Government, 2017a), since 2008, education has been compulsory from the Preparatory Year until completion of Year 10 (or until a young person reaches the age of 16, whichever comes first). Unless they are in full-time work, young people who have finished Year 10 or reached the age of 16 are then required to participate in education and training until they have: ■ completed Year 12, or ■ gained a vocational qualification, or ■ turned 17. Upper Secondary Education in Queensland 4 Full Review These requirements were introduced with a view to encouraging young people to remain in education or training (be earning or learning) and raising the number of students completing Year 12. A range of senior secondary pathways are available in the intention that these are responsive to individual needs and so enable younag people to complete Year 12. All can lead to successful completion of the Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE). Some of the vocational programmes available begin in Year 10 and continue into Years 11 and 12. Upper Secondary Education in Queensland Full Review 5 Available pathways / programmes ■ What pathways / programmes are available to students - academic / vocational / professional / flexible? ■ At what stage are decisions about the student choice of pathway finalised and who has an input into these decisions? ■ Where do these pathways lead - entry to higher education; accreditation for professional life; further training? ■ What percentage of the overall cohort of students progress through each pathway? ■ How many students progress to higher education / further education / workforce / apprenticeships? The learning pathways in Years 11 and 12 are intended to lead to the Queensland Certificate of Education (QCE). This is Queensland’s senior school qualification (introduced in 2008), awarded at the end of Year 12. It records achievement of learning at a set standard and pattern in contributing studies (credits); meets a minimum level of literacy and numeracy requirements; recognises broad learning options; and offers flexibility in what, where and when learning occurs. The following can, for example, contribute towards a student’s QCE: ■ the study of general / academic subjects in school ■ the study of vocational education and training (VET) courses / qualifications in school (known as VETiS - vocational education and training in schools) ■ the study of VET courses / qualifications with an external registered training organisation, such as a TAFE institution (institution of technical and further education) ■ school-based apprenticeships and traineeships* ■ the study of university subjects in school ■ studies towards the International Baccalaureate (IB) Diploma ■ the study of an employment skills development programme recognised under the Further Education and Training Act 2014 (Queensland Government, 2017b). *School-based apprenticeships and traineeships (SAT) allow students in Years 11 and 12 to work with an employer as paid employees, while studying for their QCE. At the same time, students undertake a training qualification with a supervising registered training organisation chosen by both the employer and the student. Part of the student’s time must be spent in school. Some school-based apprenticeships and traineeships, like some vocational qualifications, may begin in Year 10. To commence a SAT, a student must have the support of the employer, the school, the supervising registered training organisation, and their parent or guardian. Upper Secondary Education in Queensland 6 Full Review Decisions on student pathways for Year 11 and 12 are taken in Year 10 when students, in consultation with their school and their parents / carers, develop a Senior Education and Training (SET) plan. The purpose of a SET plan is to help students: ■ think about their education, training and career options after Year 12 and make decisions about their learning pathways ■ set and achieve their learning goals for Years 11 and 12 ■ include flexible and coordinated pathway options in their course of senior study ■ structure